Community Advocate, Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Community Advocate

YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish is seeking a compassionate, skilled, and mission-driven Community Advocate to join our Gender-Based Violence Services team. This position provides trauma-informed advocacy and comprehensive support to adult survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), domestic violence, and sexual assault.

The Community Advocate partners with survivors to increase safety, stability, and self-determination by helping them navigate complex systems, access community resources, and develop individualized plans that support their goals. This position requires excellent relationship-building skills, sound judgment, cultural humility, and a commitment to serving survivors through a strengths-based, survivor-centered approach.

Note:

This position is 100% onsite and includes regular travel throughout South King County to meet with clients, attend community meetings, and collaborate with partner organizations.

• Provide trauma-informed crisis intervention, advocacy, and ongoing case management to adult survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and sexual assault.
• Conduct comprehensive client intakes, assess immediate and long-term needs, and determine program eligibility.
• Develop individualized service plans that promote safety, stability, and self-determination.
• Create safety plans tailored to each survivor's circumstances and goals.
• Connect clients with housing, healthcare, behavioral health, employment, financial assistance, and other community resources.
• Complete housing assessments and coordinate emergency shelter placements when appropriate.
• Support survivors in navigating legal and community systems, including protection orders, family law matters, lease terminations, CPS involvement, relocation assistance, and interactions with law enforcement.
• Advocate alongside clients to reduce barriers and improve access to services.
• Respond promptly to referrals, crisis calls, and requests for assistance in accordance with program standards.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community organizations, healthcare providers, legal professionals, law enforcement, and other stakeholders.
• Represent YWCA at community meetings, multidisciplinary teams, and outreach events.
• Plan and facilitate presentations and trainings to increase awareness of YWCA services.
• Participate in outreach efforts that improve access to services for survivors furthest from opportunity, particularly Black and African American survivors.
• Maintain accurate, timely client records, case notes, and service documentation.
• Complete required grant reporting, statistical reporting, and program narratives.
• Ensure compliance with agency policies, funding requirements, and confidentiality standards.
• Complete required domestic violence advocacy training and at least 20 hours of continuing education annually.
• Participate in YWCA's Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) and contribute to an equitable, inclusive workplace.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the program and agency mission.

• One year of Direct Social Service experience or translatable lived experience in lieu of a social services degree.
• Strong orientation and familiarity toward system navigating multiple systems (i.e., municipal, superior courts, legal systems, and law enforcement)
• Experience working with gender-based violence survivors from marginalized communities, specifically African American communities.
• Knowledgeable about gender-based violence, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking.
• Skilled at using Microsoft office suite including Outlook, Calendar, Teams, excel, and virtual meeting technology such as ZOOM.
• Valid Driver's License and ability to travel independently between multiple work sites within a day.
• Willingness to complete a minimum of 20 hours of initial basic training that covers: advocacy-based counseling, history of domestic violence, safety planning, and crisis intervention

• All positions at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish are exposed to clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms including but not limited to domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, financial hardship, etc. As a result, staff are at risk of secondary trauma. Employees are encouraged to seek external support and maintain self-care when working indirectly or directly with clients.
• Continuously exchanges information through listening and talking with clients, agency staff, employers, representatives of community organizations, and other individuals in the community
• Frequently stands, walks, sits, and climbs in performing duties in the workspace and in the community
• Continuous use of telephones, computers, fax machines, and other office equipment and supplies
• Occasionally must access personal living spaces within multi-level apartment complexes
• Frequent travel up to 50% of the…